The Board of
Supervisors of the County of Inyo, State of California, met in regular session
at the hour of 9:10 a.m., on Tuesday, May 21,
2002, in the Board of Supervisors
Room, County Administrative Center, Independence, with the following Supervisors
present:Chairperson Linda
Arcularius presiding, Julie Bear, and Carroll M. Hambleton, Jr.Supervisors Ervin Lent and Michael Dorame were absent.Supervisor Hambleton provided the Invocation, and Supervisor Bear led the
Pledge of Allegiance.

Public Comment

The Chairperson announced the public comment
period.Ms. Andrea Clark,
Resource Management Coordinator, informed the Board that the County has
been notified of a proposed land exchange of 25 acres in Mammoth known as
Shady Rest for 981 acres of private property in Orange, Inyo, Mono and
Tulare Counties.Ms. Clarke
indicated that Inyo County has responded to this proposal in the past and
it appears the County’s concerns were not addressed in the Environmental
Assessment.She also informed the Board that Staff will be preparing a
response to again address the County’s concerns with this exchange.Mr. Von Riesen, Independence Resident, informed the Board that he
has observed children playing on the weekends on the Road Equipment stored
at the Road Yard, saying that he felt the County needed to be aware of
this situation.

CAO-Purchasing/
Mosquito Abatement ATV Purchase

Moved by
Supervisor Hambleton and seconded by Supervisor Bear to award Bid No.
2001-17 for and approve the purchase of one (1) All Terrain Vehicle for
the Mosquito Abatement District from Mammoth Polaris, in an amount not to
exceed $6,099 plus tax.Motion
carried unanimously, with Supervisors Lent and Dorame absent.

CAO-Purchasing/
Ammunition Purchase

Moved by Supervisor Hambleton and seconded by Supervisor
Bear to A) reject the quotation received from L.C. Action Police Supply
for ammunition as non-responsive and B) award the quotation for and
approve the purchase of Winchester ammunition for the Sheriff’s
Department from Adamson Industries, in an amount not to exceed $2,664 plus
tax.Motion carried
unanimously, with Supervisors Lent and Dorame absent.

Parks
& Rec./ Well Pump Replacement Diaz Lake

Moved by Supervisor Hambleton and seconded by Supervisor
Bear to declare Kirshenman’s Well Drilling as a sole-source provider for
well pumps and authorize the purchase and emergency replacement of two
well pumps and distribution system at the Diaz Lake Campground from
Kirshenman’s Well Drilling in an amount not to exceed $9,749.92.Motion carried unanimously, with Supervisors Lent and
Dorame absent.

H&H-Children’s
Serv. Council-D.A./By Laws

Moved by Supervisor Hambleton and seconded by
Supervisor Bear to approve the amendments to the Inyo County Children’s
Services Council Bylaws as recommended by Staff.Motion carried unanimously, with Supervisors Lent and Dorame
absent.

E.
Health/Truck Purchase

Moved by Supervisor Hambleton and seconded by
Supervisor Bear to award the bid for and approve the purchase of one (1)
2002 Ford F150 Regular Cab 4x4 short bed pickup to the low bidder Eastern
Sierra Motors in an amount not to exceed $22,574,38.Motion carried unanimously, with Supervisors Lent and Dorame
absent.

H&H-Behavioral
Hlth./NNA Contract Amendment

Moved by
Supervisor Hambleton and seconded by Supervisor Bear to approve Amendment
No. 1 to the Negotiated Net Amount Contract between the County of Inyo and
the State of California Department of Alcohol and Drug Programs, reducing
the Contract by $18,542; and authorize the Chairperson to sign.Motion carried unanimously, with Supervisors Lent and
Dorame absent.

Resol.
#2002-38/ Subs. Abuse & Crime Prev. Act

On a
motion by Supervisor Hambleton and a second by Supervisor Bear, Resolution
No. 2002-38 was adopted, approving the FY 2002-03 Plan for implementation
of the Substance Abuse and Crime Prevention Act: motion unanimously passed
and adopted, with Supervisors Lent and Dorame absent.

H&H-Soc.
Serv./ Special Care Rate Plan

Staff
provided additional information, further explanation and responded to
questions regarding the request for approval of the Special Care Rate Plan
for increased reimbursement for local foster parents for the placement of
foster children with special needs.Moved
by Supervisor Hambleton and seconded by Supervisor Bear to approve the
Special Care Rate Plan for Inyo County foster children with special needs,
allowing increased payment to local foster parents, based on child needs,
in an effort to reduce out-of-the-area placements of those same children
in more costly group homes.Motion
carried unanimously, with Supervisors Lent and Dorame absent.

P.W./Old
Jail Asbestos Removal Plans and Specs.

The Public Works Director provided additional
information and further justification for the project to remove asbestos
from the Old Jail prior to demolition.In response to questions, Mr. Jewett explained that asbestos had
been removed from the Jail several years ago which involved the removal of
insulation from around the duct work.He went on to explain that the current asbestos removal project
would remove asbestos from the roof area.Mr. Jewett informed the Board that the asbestos currently being
required to be removed was discovered while preparing the facility for
demolition.Moved by
Supervisor Hambleton and seconded by Supervisor Bear to approve the Plans
and Specifications for the Old Inyo County Jail Asbestos Abatement Project
and authorize the Public Works Director to advertise for bids for the
project.Motion

P.W./Nine
Mile Canyon Rd. Plans & Specs

Moved by
Supervisor Hambleton and seconded by Supervisor Bear to approve the Plans,
Special Provisions, and bid documents for the Nine Mile Canyon Road
Reconstruction Project and authorize the Public Works Director to
advertise for bids for the project.Motion carried unanimously, with Supervisors Lent and Dorame
absent.

Sheriff’s
Dept./ Carpet Replace- ment

Moved by Supervisor Hambleton and seconded by
Supervisor Bear to approve the purchase of carpet and pad, removal of
existing carpet and pad, installation of new carpet and pad and travel
from Carpet & Tile Warehouse, Inc., of Pahrump, NV in an amount not to
exceed $4,388 for the replacement of the carpet in the mobile homes used
by the Resident Deputies in Shoshone.Motion carried unanimously, with Supervisors Lent and Dorame
absent.

CAO-Budget/
State Budget Update

The County
Administrator provided a detailed and in-depth report on the proposed
State Budget based on the latest information provided during his recent
CAO’s meeting in Sacramento.Mr.
Mendez reviewed briefly some of the potential impacts of this Budget on
Inyo County.He indicated
that he would not be addressing the impacts to health and human services,
saying he had asked Dr. Holgate to address those issues.Mr. Mendez said that at the present time the information being
provided was preliminary and would, more than likely, be changing as the
State budget process continues.Mr.
Mendez informed the Board that he would be discussing recommendations for
specific actions by the County in response to the proposed budget cuts
during his third-quarter review next week.Dr. Holgate went on to provide and read into the record a prepared
statement addressing her concerns with the proposed budget cuts on health
and human services.The
Board, Dr. Holgate and Mr. Mendez discussed the information provided in
Dr. Holgate’s letter, including concurring with her recommendation that
vacant positions not be filled in the Health and Human Services Departmentuntil the final State Budget is adopted and the impacts are
assessed.In response to a
question about action to put in place a hiring freeze, Mr. Mendez said
that he would bring back a specific recommendation regarding a Countywide
hiring freeze during the third-quarter review.The County Administrator went on to explain that the recruitment
processes will continue through the establishment ofeligibility lists, clarifying that while the County may continue to
recruit,we are under no
obligation to hire as a result of a recruitment.Mr. Mendez reiterated his position that the County should proceed
with great caution until all of the ramifications to the final State
Budget are determined.The
Board informed the CAO that they would be looking forward to next week’s
third-quarter discussions and would anticipate addressing the potential
impacts to the County as the result of the State Budget at that time.

CAO-Info
Serv./ Property Tax System Integration Project

Mr. Brandon Schultz, Information Services Director,
briefly reviewed the request to approve the Property Tax System
Integration Project.Moved by
Supervisor Bear and seconded by Supervisor Hambleton to A) approve the
Property Tax System Integration Project in an amount not to exceed
$210,000, which includes $64,500 for computer hardware already purchased,
$10,000 for project contingencies, and $27,500 for implementation costs
including data conversion and training for the OPTIM and PAMS systems as
defined by the Contracts;B)
approve the Contract between the County of Inyo and Crest Software for the
purchase of OPTIM System Assessor’s module in an amount not to exceed
$63,500; C) approve the Contract between the County of Inyo and Cirone
Consulting, Inc., for the purchase of PAMS software in an amount not to
exceed $20,000;D) authorize
the purchase of software maintenance in an amount not to exceed $17,000,
and the purchase of computer hardware in an amount not to exceed $7,500;
andE) authorize the County
Administrator to sign the Contracts on behalf of the County, contingent
upon the appropriate signatures being obtained.Motion carried unanimously, with Supervisors Lent and Dorame
absent.

H&H-Children
& Families/Comm. Appointment

At the beginning of the discussion regarding an
appointment to the Children and Families Commission, the County
Administrator, Mr. René Mendez, left the meeting.Supervisor Bear informed the Board that the Commission is
in the process of changing the Ordinance to increase the membership of the
Commission because of the increased interest.She explained that the issue of Conflict in Inyo County is
still very real with regard to Prop 10 funding and that these requests for
appointment had been reviewed by County Counsel and potential conflicts
addressed with the Applicants.She
went on to thank all of the applicants for their interest in serving and
nominated Martha Mendez to the vacancy.Moved by Supervisor Bear and seconded by Supervisor Hambleton to
appoint Ms. Martha Mendez to the Children and Families Commission to
complete an unexpired three-year term ending December 5, 2003.Motion carried unanimously, with Supervisors Lent and Dorame
absent.The County
Administrator rejoined the meeting at the conclusion of this action.

P.W./Application for Safe
Routes to Schools Grant for Sidewalk at New Jill Kinmont Boothe School

The Board and Staff discussed the request to
approve an application for a “Safe Routes to Schools” Program grant to
install a sidewalk in front of the new Jill Kinmont Boothe School. The
Public Works Director reviewed the scores this project received through
the Outside Projects Evaluation Criteria process, explaining that while
the project scored a low 67, the Department decided to bring the project
forward for Board consideration because it had some merit.Mr. Jewett informed the Board that the LTC discussed the
need to expand the project to extend the sidewalks into the Manor Market
Area and chose not to support the project because it did not extend beyond
the boundaries of the school.

Mr. Jewett also informed the Board that in a prior
conversation with the County Superintendent of Schools regarding expanding
the project, Mr. George Lozito had indicated that the Office of Education
was not willing to provide the required match funds for an expanded
project.Mr. Lozito addressed
the Board to provide further explanation on the matching requirement for
an expanded project, explaining that because of the Office of
Education’s budget cycle it would have been impossible to increase the
amount set aside for this project in order to cover increased costs for an
expanded project.He
indicated that he would be willing to explore the possibility of expanding
the sidewalks in the surrounding areas in a future budget.Mr. Lozito and the Board discussed the needs of other schools for
“safe routes to schools” and how local school districts could apply
for this funding also.The
Board and Mr. Jewett discussed the impact this project will have on other
Road Department Projects, with the Public Works Director informing the
Board that this project will take a priority status because of the grant
requirements.

The County Administrator and the Board of
Supervisors went on to discuss the Outside Projects Evaluation Criteria
which resulted in this project being rated low.The Board asked the County Administrator to review the Criteria
procedure and bring back recommendations to amend the process to allow
these types of projects to be given consideration in a more equitable
manner.

Moved by Supervisor Bear and seconded by Supervisor
Hambleton to approve the application for Safe Routes to Schools Program
submitted by the Inyo County Office of Education for construction of a
sidewalk in front of the new Jill Kinmont Boothe School and direct Staff
to proceed with this application and the project.Motion carried unanimously, with Supervisors Lent and
Dorame absent.Additionally
the Board provided direction to the County Administrator to review the
Outside Projects Evaluation Criteria Procedure and bring back
recommendations to change the Procedure to allow the Board to take into
consideration these types of projects.

P.W.-Town
Water Systems/Indy Upgrade Phase III, IV & V Plans & Specs.

The Public
Works Director reviewed the Independence Town Water System Upgrade
Project, in detail, with Mr. Jewett providing the Board with a copy of an
Independence Town Map which identified the work which has been completed
under Phases I and II, the proposed areas for Phases III, IV and V and
which delineated the limited upgrades which were identified by the Boyle
Report.Mr. Jewett
informed the Board that this Project encompasses 6,000 ft of 6” pipe,
1000 ft. of 8” pipe, 6 fire hydrants and 42 lateral connections.

Mr. Von
Riesen, Independence Resident, addressed the Board to identify some
problems he has with the project, which were the replacement of the old
laterals and that connections from the main and the laterals are not being
installed and inspected properly.Mr.
Riesen said that when he spoke with the Contractor, he observed that
galvanized and copper were being connected and was informed that no
inspection was being done.He
explained that using two different types of metal without using the proper
connection material would allow electrolysis to occur.He went on to say that he felt it was imperative that the
inspection of the connection be done to ensure that no electrolysis is
occurring.Mr. Riesen also expressed his dissatisfaction with the fact
that the old laterals are not being replaced and asked the Board to
reconsider the project to include the replacement of the laterals. Mr.
Frank Loder, Independence Resident,addressed
the Board to concur with Mr. Riesen’s comments and to recommend the
replacement of a majority of the older laterals.Mr. Jewett explained that the laterals are being replaced only if
the connection cannot be completed successfully and that the connections
are being inspected as required by the Plans and Specifications which were
approved for the project.

Ms. Dean
Loder, representing the Independence CSD, informed the Board that the CSD
does not feel they are being sufficiently involved or informed about the
Independence Town Water System Upgrade Project.She asked that the CSD be permitted to participate in future
meetings involving this project.The
County Administrator addressed Ms. Loder’s concerns, clarifying that
because this is a County Project, it is not appropriate to have outside
third party involvement at this time.Mr. Mendez also informed the Board that Staff has made the
information regarding the phases of all of the Town Water System Upgrades
available to the public.

Supervisor
Bear reviewed the upgrades which were originally proposed by the Boyle
Report, explaining that by the County assuming the responsibility for the
upgrades the Town Water Systems were being expanded to provide many more
upgrades and better systems than was originally anticipated.

Ms. Loder
went on to thank the Board for their support of the CSD and the
Independence Town Water System Upgrade Project and ask if perhaps with
regard to the replacement of lateral connections, there was a way that the
property owners could replace the laterals if they chose and work out some
type of financing for this work through the County.Mr. Jewett explained the process whereby the laterals are being
replaced through the Contract, saying that when a lateral is determined to
need to be replaced a Project Change Order is issued and approved and the
work is done and paid for through the Change Order.Supervisor Hambleton indicated his desire to have Staff look into
the concerns identified with the laterals.Mr. Jewett indicated he would review the replacement procedure for
the laterals and should it be determined additional laterals should to be
replaced, he will incorporate those replacements through the Change Order
process of the Contract.The
County Administrator cautioned the Board about the possible impacts and
liabilities associated with financing the homeowners replacement of
laterals through the County.The
Board and Staff discussed the project including the limitations of having
a fixed amount in order to perform the upgrades, what the priorities of
upgrades are in relationship to a limited budget,and the priorities which were set when the projects were originally
formulated.

Moved by
Supervisor Hambleton and seconded by Supervisor Bear to approve the Plans
and Specifications for the Phase III, IV and V Independence Water System
Upgrade and authorize the Public Works Director to advertise for bids for
the project and direct Staff to bring back a report on the concerns with
the lateral replacements.Motion
carried unanimously, with Supervisors Lent and Dorame absent.

BofS/Minute Order

Moved by Supervisor Bear and seconded by Supervisor
Hambleton to approve the minutes of the May 7, 2002, Board of Supervisors
Meeting.Motion carried
unanimously, with Supervisors Lent and Dorame absent.

Board Members and Staff
Reports

The Board Members briefly reported on their
activities during the preceding week, including an Independence Civic Club
Meeting, the LTC Meeting, the LAFCO Meeting, the RCRC Meeting held in
Bishop on Wednesday and Thursday, and an IMAAA Board Meeting.The County Administrator reminded the Board that Monday, May 27,
2002, is a County holiday and that other than the 24 hour, 7 day a week
Operations, the County Offices will be closed.

Closed
Session

County
Counsel notified the Board that Closed Session Agenda Item No. 18. CONFERENCE
WITH LEGAL COUNSEL EXISTING/ANTICIPATED LITIGATION (Pursuant to Government
Code Section 54956.9(a)(c) – One Case - 2002-2003 Pumping Plan
Dispute between LADWP and County of Inyo, Adjudication of Dispute Pursuant
to the Long Term Water Agreement entered June 1997 as Stipulation and
Order for Judgement, Inyo County Superior Court, Case No. 12908, was
pulled from the Agenda and would not be discussed.

Adjournment

The Chairperson announced that today’s meetings
was being adjourned in memory of Bill Hastings who was a retired Inyo
County Veterans Service Officer.She
offered the Board’s condolences to the Hastings family and offer the
County’s thanks for his year’s of dedicated service and his service as
a Veteran.The Chairperson
adjourned the regular meeting, in memory of Bill Hastings,at 2:15 p.m., to 9:00 a.m., May 28, 2002, in the Board of
Supervisors Room, at the County Administrative Center, in Independence.

_______________________________________Chairperson,
Inyo County Board of Supervisors

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